11.17.2012

Pillow Master's Tips and $100 Giveaway

Liana is darling and unassuming and in my book...."The Pillow Master."

She runs a top quality, single person shop AND has a husband and two small boys.

These pillows were made for me recently...look at that hidden zipper.

The pillows covers came beautifully packaged.

In fact, Liana delivered them to me.

Which prompted my daughter to say

"Wow, Mom, you got it bad...

your dealer is delivering to your door now."

Liana often gets decorating questions emailed to her, but prefers that her customers get professional advice. She says "A single hour of consultation with a trained professional can cost as much as a single pillow, and will be much more valuable than all the time, stress and wasted money you'd spend on experimenting." But you could submit questions here for a follow-up post.

How to Stuff A Pillow Cover:

1. Put safety pins at either side of the zipper to reinforce it. Liana says that no matter the quality, zippers can be damaged during this process.

2. Fold the Pillow in half (makes total sense--but I didn't know this)

oh my goodness! I am a pillow hoarder and these are gorgeous! I pinned pillows I love and I really hope you pick me! :) I also really liked the trick with the safety pin, you don't know how many pillow covers I've damaged! Thank you! Crossing my fingers! Melaine

Beautiful pillows! I've been following your page for a couple of weeks and spent nearly a whole sunday reading your blog. What a beautiful home you have! I love the pillows on this post - would love to be the proud owner of one or two! Happy Saturday, Sally

Wow!!! Just found your blog over the past week....live just a bit south of you in San Clemente. :) Lido is very dear to me because my grandparents had a home there for years and years. I am a Newport Beach native and have spent so much time there! It's a lovely place.

I, too, am a pillow junkie. Not everyone knows what an amazing source Etsy is for high-quality pillows. I haven't seen this shop before, and I am very impressed! Would LOVE to win these pillows!!! Thanks for the very generous giveaway!

Mary Ann you're killing me this morning! Two of my favorite things....your house and Liana's beautiful pillows! Woody Liana has long been one of my favorite shops on etsy...fabrics and quality second to none!

All of those pillow combinations look stunning. Making me want to change all of my pillows...again. I'm sweating over here! I really want to win the contest :)

Oh I love these! I just pinned the magnolia pillows. How pretty! Your daughter is so funny, too (she sounds quick witted!). I am hoping I win, as I would love to use these in the dining room at the end on each chair. Beautiful! I'll be scanning her site for sure. My email is tomharvill@comcast.net.

As Karen said "Mary Ann....You're killing me! WOW......her pillow are SO divine...I can hardly stand it! Her fabrics and workmanship are amazing and I love the tips on stuffing a pillow (though I did know the part about folding the insert)! I'm now obsessed to make more pillows and I adore the ice blue and citron color combo! Thanks....now I'll have to go on the hunt for more fabrics!!! And YES....I immediately noticed Liana's bracelets....too chic!

P.S. I just went to Esty and saw her amazing collection of pillows and fell madly in love with about 20 pillows. Love Sinhala in Bittersweet and the Nebaha in Citron. But the thing I was most amazed by are her great prices....don't know how she does it! What a fabulous find Mary Ann!

I have checked out Liana's beautiful pillows out many times on Etsy. I pinned several, my favorite is the Lee Jofa Indian Zag. And I love your pink and green pillow which I did not see on her site. Her pillows look great in your pretty home!

This is what I call pillow perfection....LOVE them. They look fabulous, your choices were spot on. I get so excited with pillows...and you are right such a quick and easy way to change things up. I too love the plushness of a wonderful down pillow, the fuller and squishier the better!! Thanks for sharing!

I have a question: I do love the feel of the feather/down inserts; but my husband is VERY allergic to them. (And it is not simply of matter of needing to be sure the feathers and down are thoroughly washed.)

Is there a synthetic product you can recommend that has the quality feel and resilience of feather/down?

I pinned the Kelly Wearstler pillow because I love it; but it doesn't match anything I own. I also love the chevron bar silk pillow in marine, and it looks like it would be a great match in my living room.

Hi, I'm back after looking around her etsy shop--I really love all of her pillows. I pinned the PAIR of 20"sq. Thomas O'Brien NYMPHEUS pillow covers in Teal for my sunroom. That's what I'd get if I win. Oh, please let me win :)

I just subscribed and I'm in love with the pillows and so appreciate the tutorial. I will pin a few and like you on FB too. Thank you for the opportunity. I've ordered a swatch and I'm ready for pillows! Lisadiffley@aol.com

Love pillow talk...most of us do. Pillows really add I love making them, designing them and with them, gifting them to clients, friends and family. Having your pillow dealer close is a fabulous thing lol!

Such beautiful pillows! I love the ones in the post, but didn't find them all in her shop. But I still found some others that I'd love to have! Thank you! I pinned this one http://pinterest.com/pin/55450639133772952/I'm a follower!

Thanks for sharing this technique! I loved the Schumacher BETWIXT pillow cover in Indigo in Woody Liana's show but there are so many wonderful other ones also. I like your Facebook page already and follow your blog.

I LOVE Woody Liana pillows. I always have a wish list going for what I want to purchase next from her. I so want two 22" chiang mai pillows in the aquamarine colorway with the same fabric on front and back! I may have to give up a kidney to get them but am confident it would be worth it! No one gives more attention to the finishing details than Liana, she is hands down the best.Angie acohara@mchsi.com

P.S. love your mercury jug lamp, now its time for me to search your blog for the back story to fin out if the lamp shade is black or navy and where you got it!

Love this shop and love reading your blog - I live in San Diego, not too far from both of you! I pinned onto my pinterest page the 18sq or 20sq Schumacher BETWIXT pillow cover. Would love to win & display the pillow cover in my home! Thank you! Emily emily.m.barrette@gmail.com

I never knew how to stuff a pillow cover before! I'm going to have to pin this. That is beautiful workmanship on those pillows. So often you see pillows on Etsy with no welt or made with no regard for the pattern (to maximize fabric). I would love to win this gift certificate. In the meantime I'm going to add her shop to my favorites.

Love this post and your appreciation for gorgeous pillows!Thank you for introducing us to this wonderful pillow source, and how fortunate you are to live so close to each other too!Thanks for stopping by my blog and you are right about us being thrilled about the Bruin victory over USC!! A new era begins :)Wishing you a most wonderful Thanksgiving.Lots of Love,Terri

I just found your blog via Between Naps on the Porch. Those pillows are gorgeous. I could see how you have become addicted. I not only liked her shop on FB, but I also pinned a couple pillows on pinterest. This came at a great time as we've been renovating the family room and I've been wanting something different to update the couch etc.

Amazing giveaway! I love her pillows and have her as a favorite on etsy. I also follow you through GFC! :) Her pillows look amazing in your home. I never thought about reinforcing the zipper. I will do that in the future! :)

Seeing your choices of pillows has always been one of my favorite decorating things. I think I commented on your other post about the pink and orange pillows. They might have even been my inspiration for my party this Saturday! Coinkydink? I think not. :). Have a very happy Thanksgiving, Mary Ann.

Such good information on how to stuff and care for pillows! So many beautiful pillows to choose from. I think that I would LOVE the Schumacher Avebury Floral Vine pillow for my guest bedroom! I also follow you on FB and email!

I loved the post on pillows and I am addicted too! I liked the lesson on how to stuff and care for pillows and will be trying it soon. My favorites in the shop are the wavy stitch lumbar in navy and the 20 inch velvet- a great addition for the season! Thanks for the giveaway. Sue

These posts about pillows are great. I actually just pinned both posts on pinterest - these will became great know tos when I get around to cleaning my inserts and buying new covers! My favorite WoodyLiana pillow is the BETWIXT pillow cover in Chartreuse - love this fabric!

I have been stalking the Quadrille zig-zag pillow but can't decide between that and the pinstripe belgian linen velvet one, but now that I saw your Vervain Ishtar pillows on furniture, they've made my top 3! I've yet to convince my husband we need more furniture so I can buy all of them :)I also liked the tips on caring for/cleaning pillows. Her work is impeccable and I would love to have one of her pillows - fingers crossed!gonzalezsallie@hotmail.com

Pinned the Darya Ikat in Jewel 20" pillow on my Details, Details board. Would love it in my family room. Thanks for the the giveaway this Thanksgiving week. And thanks for the cleaning tips. afauls@verizon.net

The pillows are beautiful and wonderful to receive the tips for stuffing and refreshing the inserts! I pinned a couple of my favorites (so hard to choose!). kpwl.lee@gmail.com Thanks for the giveaway!!